February Exhibit – February 2-28, 2018

The February exhibit at Justus Fine Art Gallery will feature a selection of paintings by Donnie Copeland, Virmarie DePoyster, Dolores Justus, and Dan Thornhill, along with woodwork, ceramics, and sculpture by Robert Fogel, Jill Kyong, Robyn Horn, Sandra Sell, and Gene Sparling. Additional work by others will also showcased. The exhibit will open with a reception from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, February 2, in conjunction with the monthly Gallery Walk. The show will be on display February 2-28, 2018.

Donnie Copeland is an abstract painter who works primarily with painted paper to produce non-objective, collaged canvases that emphasize pattern, texture, color and mark. His works are a synthesis of the visuality of landscapes, such as the planted fields and prairie that run along the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers, as well as that of peoples and cultures local and distant, rural and urban. Copeland serves as Associate Professor of Visual Arts and Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Ouachita Baptist University where he teaches painting, drawing, and art history.

Virmarie DePoyster’s color-rich paintings and mixed-media work range from representational to abstract. For the February exhibit, a selection of her tulip paintings will be featured. Her work has been included in multiple exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad, including her 2015 solo exhibition “Revelation” held at the U.S. Embassy in Rome.

“Petal Power 2″ by Virmarie DePoyster (c)

Dan Thornhill’s multi-media paintings reflect his joy of life and a whimsical spirit. Working with a variety of materials, Thornhill creates work that layers form, line, and texture within his colorful compositions. With a M.A. in Studio Arts, Thornhill shares his enthusiasm for art by teaching courses at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Museum School.

As a biology professor for 25 years prior to pursuing a career in art, Robert Fogel developed a deep appreciation for nature, especially landforms and rocks that exhibit strong lines, textures and color. Many of his sculptures evoke rock formations, landforms and other natural features that he observed during the summers he spent collecting fungi in the West. Working in a variety of materials from steel to acrylic, Fogel brings an attitude of experimentation to his work.

Jill Kyong grew up in northern Minnesota where she watched her father build furniture. She earned a BFA degree with a focus on metal casting from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and currently teaches woodworking at the Arkansas Arts Center. Kyong builds custom designed furniture and sculptures that tell the stories of herself and others. She is currently working on a series of stories of connection interpreted in wood.

“Strength and Weakness” by Jill Kyong (c)

A selection of wood sculptures by Robyn Horn and Sandra Sell will be included in the exhibit. Robyn Horn’s work integrates organic elements with angular form to create pieces that exhibit a new unified elegance. Horn’s sculptures and paintings are included in many notable museum and public collections. Sandra Sell’s wood sculptures have also been included in numerous exhibitions and collections throughout the country. The sculptural wood turnings of Gene Sparling and ceramics by Michael Ashley, along with a selection of new expressive abstract landscapes by Dolores Justus, will also be featured.